Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 25: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A STRANGER IN TOWN. him loose. 3 _ aware that Miss Elton had also risen. ‘We've been waiting for you to come and say so, Captain Salles. Mr. Harmon, being a stranger in the city, had no one to identify him,” he heard her begin. “Well,” I’ve said it,” Salles snorted. He seemed more than a little upset to find that Jenkins had so plainly bungled in getting his man. ‘“ Blumefeldt’s a man grown, as it | happens, and this boy’s only a kid.” Yes, it was all right. Not only had Salles said he was not the man he wanted, but he was sticking to it, and yet oddly enough some of Harmon’s elation vanished at his reaffirming words. All at once he was filled with. blended emotions. He flushed. Of course, it was splendid to have his identity vouched for in such unequivocal a fashion, but—what the deuce did the captain mean by calling him a boy—a kid, in front of this girl of the brown hair and the violet eyes and the wise little head? The way he spoke, it was almost as though he sneered at Eddie’s years. He might as well have said he had scarcely reached the age of discretion—would hardly have been capable of doing what Jenkins had alleged. For a moment it was in his mind to resent the imputation. But he con- trolled his feelings. “JT tried to make your man Jenkins un- derstand that Blumefeldt was the person who handed me that bogus bill,” he said. His face lighted. He became 655 Miss Elton gave him a glance, and Salles narrowed his eyes. ‘Think so?” he inquired. -“ Of course.” Salles might fancy him a callow youth, but at least he would show him that he was able ‘to use his reason; to take facts and arrive at the logical de- duction. Eddie went on to establish that fact beyond any contradiction. ~ “Who else could it have been? What earthly reason would any one else have had for doing what he did? And in view of the fact that he was trying to make his escape, I should think his motive would be plain.” “ You think quite a lot don’t you?” For no reason that Eddie could understand, Salles’ tone was all at once brittle. But it was not time for speculation. He answered the question: “I try to use my brain.” , “And you think he was trying to clean himself just as you did after Jenkins grabbed you?” ‘“‘T think that was part of his object— though mainly he wanted me to chase him. That’s why he slapped me. I suppose you know he slapped me, captain?” Salles nodded. He and the quiet man exchanged glances. “I know all about it, and I get your point,”’ he said shortly. “ It’s the logical conclusion, provided the bill was bogus. But Mr. Marvin here knows a lot about such matters and se says it’s genuine,” TO BE CONTINUED NEXT. WEEK v le} SMOKE FANCIES / "TEE day Is gray, A mist-wet pall Hangs over all; The belching smokestacks Reaching high—huge crayons, Trace weird silhouettes Upon the murky sky. Margaret Wheeler Ross. GOMIGIOoOkKsS-Cco